Cromarty

The drive into Cromarty feels like you're running out of Scotland altogether - that's rather the point. This small village sits at the tip of a peninsula just north of Inverness, and it's the kind of place where the main street has proper character without feeling twee about it. Georgian sandstone cottages line the seafront, and you'll spot the ruin of Cromarty Church emerging from the slope behind the village. The real draw here is getting outside. Walking the headlands offers genuine Highland coastal views - not dramatic cliff faces, but sweeping vistas across the Moray Firth where you might spot dolphins if you're lucky. Allow a couple of hours for a proper walk and a wander round the village itself. There's a small museum if the weather turns, though frankly you're better off on foot.

Families with capable walkers will get the most from Cromarty. It's not theme-park entertainment, but the combination of seascape, geology, and the quiet appeal of an actual working village - not a tourist replica - makes it worth the trip from Inverness. The coastal path is accessible without being arduous, and kids old enough to manage uneven terrain will find it far more interesting than another gift shop.

Stay at Delny Glamping just down the coast and you've got a proper base for exploring the Black Isle properly. Cromarty itself isn't going to fill a full holiday, but as a half-day excursion from a park stay, it's exactly what the Highlands do best - space, light, and views without the crowds of the west coast.